Toy acrobat



Nov. 18-, 1947'. D Aims 2,430,971

TOY ACROBAT Filed Aug. 25, 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED PATENT OFF [(3 E.

TOYACROBAT David-Atlas, Detroit Mich. Application August. 25, 1945,. Serial No..612,654.

My invention relates to toys, and its principal object is to provide a device of this character in which a jointed structure simulating a man or other animal is formed with loosely jointed limbs and suspended from a support in such manner that it may be caused to perform a series of amusing antics, thereby affording considerable amusement to the owner or operator.

In order that my said invention may be readily understood I will now describe a preferred embodiment of the same as applied to a human acrobat, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the acrobat at rest, that is to say, in its initial position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an elevational view showing the acrobat in one phase of its movement, and

Figure 4 is a side view of the same.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings A designates a vertical support, which is secured to a base B, while C shows the body of a man having jointed arms Cl and legs C2, secured thereto by pins or rivets C3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the body rests initially with the feet upon the base and is held in an upright position by a cord or other flexible member D, one end of which is connected to the body, while the other end extends upwardly and passes over the top of the support A and thence downwardly in the rear of the support where it is connected to the barrel E of a winch, the said barrel being mounted in bearings E2 and provided witha hand crank E3.

Thus by turning the crank E3 this body is drawn upward until it reaches the top of the support, and then by further winding upon the cord the body is turned upside down as shown in Figure 3. This movement being facilitated by the mode of attachment of the cord, as by the pin X upon the body and also by the arrangement of the groove Al in the support A by which the cord is guided. Thus the pull upon the cord eventually brings the body head downwards upon the top edge of the support and with the hat C4 also resting upon the said edge also. Meanwhile the vibration of the body will impart various comical movements to the legs and arms as may well be imagined.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings that I have provided a simple device for the purpose set forth, and one which may be manufactured 5 Glaima, (Cl. 46-130) cheaply either from metal or from any of the well-known plywood or plastic materials, and while I have herein described and shown a preferred embodiment of my device, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the same pertains that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, instead of the human figure shown, I may substitute that of any quadruped such as a sheep or elephant, with similarly amusing results, the various parts being jointed as above described while the animal is caused to turn over upon its back. Further, I may employ means other than the winch shown for operating the figure, such as a handle or finger ring upon the free end of the cord.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toy consisting of a support, an animal body disposed normally at one side of the support, a flexible element having one end attached to the upper portion of said animal body and extending to the top of the support, through a groove at the top of said support and down on the other side thereof where the other end of said flexible element may be manipulated by the operator of the toy to raise said animal body to the top of said support where it will stop in an inverted position on tightening said flexible element, the support and said upper portion having mutually matching parts adapted to engage each other in the inverted position of said animal body.

2. A toy consisting of a vertical support and base, an animal body normally disposed at one side of the support and resting on the base, a flexible element having one end attached to the upper portion of said animal body and extending to the top of the support, through a roove at the top of said support and down on the other side thereof where the other end of said flexible element may be manipulated by the operator of the toy to raise said animal body to the top of said support where it will stop in an inverted position on tightening said flexible element, the support and said upper portion having mutually matching parts adapted to engage each other in the inverted position of said animal body.

3. A toy consisting of a support, an animal body having loosely jointed limbs normally at one side of the support, a flexible element having one end attached to the upper portion of said animal body and extending to the top of the support, through a groove at the top of said support and down on the other side thereof Where the other end of said flexible element may be manipulated by the operator of the toy to raise said animal body to the top of said support Where it will stop in an inverted position on tightening said flexible element, the support and said upper portion having mutually matching parts adapted to engage each other in the inverted position of said animal body.

4. A toy consisting of a vertical support and base, an animal body having loosely jointed limbs normally at one side of the support and resting on the base, a flexible element having one end attached to the upper portion of said animal body and extending to the top of the support,

through a groove at the top of said support and. down On the other side thereof where the other end of said flexible element may be manipulated by the operator of the toy to raise said animal body to the top of said support where it will stop in an inverted position on tightening said flexible element, the support and said upper portion having mutually matching parts adapted to engage each other in the inverted position of said animal body.

5. A toy consisting of a support, an animal body disposed normally at one side of the support, a flexible element having one end attached to the upper portion of said animal body and extending to the top of the support, through a groove at the top of said support and down on the other side thereof, a Winch mounted on said other side, said flexible element being attached to said winch whereby, on winding said flexible element on the winch, said animal body Will be raised to the top of said support where it will stop in an inverted position on tightening said flexible element, the support and said upper portion having mutually matching parts adapted to engage each other in the inverted position of said animal body.

DAVID ATLAS. 

